The Tea Room

By: S. Forrest Nomakeo

Narrated by: Lianne Walker

Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Locked away in the seclusion of the Terem Apartments, the Romanov Tsarevnas were no threat to the crown. Yet the same Romanov blood flowed through their veins, and they weren’t so easily forgotten - one of them ruled Russia for seven years. Maria Alekseyevna writes her deepest thoughts in her diary, hides away to read, and has a forbidden love that lives in her secret script.

Natalya Alekseyevna has dedicated her life to her sister, Anna Alekseyevna, who suffers from a condition that claimed her brother, Tsar Feodor Alexeyevich. She fills her days by creating her own versions of the ancient poems sung to the Romanov children. Fyodora Alexseyevna, the youngest, is nurtured by Maria, who hopes for a better life for her youngest sister. Sofia Alekseyevna fights tradition and rules the terem and eventually the country.

Covered from view, rare excursions outside the Kremlin enhance their lives and the discovery of a secret passageway - changes everything. Sofia’s absences from the terem are explained when Maria follows Sofia and learns her secret.

©2020 Shirley Forrest Nomakeo (P)2020 Shirley Forrest Nomakeo

A perfect blend of fiction and nonfiction

I loved how the author brought people from the past to life as real people. The only ding would be the narrator read the book without much emotion.

Fascinating mesh of fact and fiction

The Tea Room by S. Forrest Nomakeo is a very fascinating listen. As a tea lover, I enjoyed how it was incorporated into the book. The author was outstanding at bringing so many details to light of the Russian Court. Society strictures were definitely placed on the tsarinas. I have listened to several books by this author, and I found this one to be my favorite. The narrator, Lianne Walker really did a good job performing this book. I could envision so many details, like the wooden palace.
I requested this review copy audiobook and am leaving an unbiased review.

An Interesting Listen

An interesting tale woven around history, of a dark time for royal women of Russia. A fictional account of behind the scenes as observed by the royal daughters that are hideaway to protect they're purity. An ambitious old sister and her next in line battle in private to change the fate of Russian Royal family. I was so intrigued I had to look up the history from the era to see what was accurate and what was woven through it for the story. A great listen for driving. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request, and have voluntarily left this review.

That's exactly what I'm looking for!

The Tea Room, my first time listening to the author, S. Forrest Nomakeo, who weaves the captivating tale of Russia's Romanaff. I don't limit myself to a genre in particular. With unforgettable characters and a plot that leaves me waiting, I am a sucker for something. This was a well-decorated audio-book, and I'm certainly going to hear more from this guy. The superb narration by Lianne Walker adds to the pleasure of the audio-book.

a captivating tale of Tsarevnas and Dragons

I enjoy historical fiction.

Russian classics authors intimidate me.

I have read some Tolstoy, and I gave up on Dostoyevsky after a few pages.

I find the lives of the Tsars and their families fascinating, I find translations of Russian works into English tedious.

When I discovered the books of author S Forrest Nomakeo, and I read the blurb, I knew I wanted to know this story.

I struggled with the first few chapters of the book; I was listening to the audiobook, and it was hard for me to follow the accent of the narrator; the names and places were so foreign too.

It was slow progress. I would rewind whole sections to hear them again. And then it just got easier for me to follow the narration.

I was transported back to Seventeenth Century Russia, into the Terem... with a ringside view of the Tsarevnas of Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich as their life unfolds.

The author has woven a beautiful story of these young ladies around historical events, and it was throughly enjoyable and thought provoking.

Thank you, Shirley for sharing this book with me in exchange for a candid review.

A well-written story from a very good author

The Tea Room, my first read from author S. Forrest Nomakeo, who weaves a captivating tale of Romanaff Russia. I don't restrict myself to a particular genre. I'm a sucker for anything with memorable characters and a story that keeps me guessing. The perfect novel? A book that keeps me turning the page long after I should have called it a night. This was a well-written book, I'll definitely read more from this author. I was given an Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing it. Lianne Walker's excellent narration adds to the enjoyment of the book. Up next is The Summer Palace: The Summer Palace Series, Book 1 from the same author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

Good

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

This was a good story. I liked the characters and the pacing was very good. The names were a bit hard to follow sometimes but that is to be expected. There is a lot of detail so sometimes I had to rewind a little bit and listen again. The narrator was really good and had no stumbles, despite how difficult it must have been for the Russian names. Well done!